Special Event! Getting the Best Pics from Special Occasions
Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or some other special event you are photographing, there are a few guidelines we can offer to help you get the best from your pictures.
Do Your Homework
Even if the planned event is a casual one, try to get a brief timetable of the day so you can make sure you’re in the right place at the right time, every time.
Arriving early to get a good idea of the layout of the venue and take some pre-event shots to assess the lighting is also a good idea and will save you trying to move people and equipment around later on.
Action Stations
Be ready with your camera all day. Unless someone has requested specific, posed shots, aim for action shots and try to catch people in the moment. These pictures will capture the true essence of the event and will make for a far more interesting album.
Be Flash Ready
Understanding when you need to use your flash and how it should be used to achieve the most natural-looking light is paramount.
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When indoors, flash use is generally recommended. If you can find a light, bare wall to bounce the light off, and light your subject from the back and front, so much the better for your pictures.
Photographing outdoors may not always require a flash, but if you feel your subject is poorly lit or if you are combatting shadowing from the sun, the flash will certainly help.
Frame it Right
Aim for 3–5 people in a picture to avoid crowding the pictures out, and use different types of shots where appropriate, for example, a shot of a single person might be taken portrait, whereas group pictures will look better landscape.
Be Polite
First off, and this is a tough one, but try not to photograph anything that people might be embarrassed by and if you find any embarrassing shots when you’re reviewing them, delete them. I promise people will appreciate this.
Second, try not to get in the way while taking pictures — you don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun.
Other than that, just keep your eyes open for where the action is and have fun!
Photographing events can be tough work, especially if you’re still finding your way around a camera. If you’re still feeling nervous, google search some other popular shots to give yourself some idea of what to aim for on the day.
Discover more amazing ideas from around the world with popular shots and guidelines for getting the best pics from special occasions over on our website!
